The Ford Barn

callcoy · 06-23-2010, 10:57 AM

Ran across a Gordon conversion the other day on what I think was a A engine. Couldn't get thru the collapsed building to view the other side to verify if it was a A or B. Anyone familar with this brand? I know there is a Gordon Co. in Memphis that makes air compressors, I haven't contacted them yet, the usual response for 75 year old info. is "DUH". I thought I would run it by you guys, I know there is a special interest group for another brand but don't know how to hook up with them. Steve - Santa Rosa

binkbee · 06-23-2010, 12:54 PM

If you can see the name "Gordon" then it did use the Ford engine. The earlier ones were Model "A" and the later were "V" engines. I live a mile from the manufacturing site. In fact I went there for employment in June of 1978 but was very politely told that "he was downsizing and he was going to regretfully have to let some long term men go". The "A" models ran on two cylinders and pumped air on the other two. There is nothing left today to show the operation---there is a firm selling landscaping mulch from it. Bill in Bowling Green, KY

sonny30coupe · 06-23-2010, 01:52 PM

There is a special interest group of which I am a member. I will try to find the link or you can go to MAFCA website and find the link I am sure. It is the Gordon Smith air compressor group. Good luck. Sonny

callcoy · 06-23-2010, 09:45 PM

Thank you Bill and Sonny for the information!

Richard Wilson · 06-24-2010, 08:19 AM

On January 1, 2010 MARC issued a regional charter for the Smith Model "A" Engine Compressor Special Interest Region. Our "Motor Compressor News" newsletter is published quarterly. Dues are just $10 a year. Membership info was published in MARC's Model A News for March - April 2010 on page 34. If you are interested in more information contact me at [email protected] or our club President Stan Johnson at [email protected]. Thanks, Richard Wilson -- Treasurer

columbiA · 08-05-2012, 01:19 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

25 years ago I built up a Gordon Smith compressor & used a 100# propane tank for the reciever.It worked very well but needed a tank at least twice the size.From start-up to 125 PSI took only about 50 seconds & when it dropped to 100 #,it took only 10 seconds to get back up to 125 #.If you need reed valves,they are easily made from steel banding about .015" thick.

Ken Ehrenhofer · 08-05-2012, 10:18 PM

I used mine to sand blast a tudor a few years ago and it puts out about 60 CFM which is about the same as a 15 Horsepower electric compressor, it still works great.
BuY it and join the Smith Compressor Region, it is a great group with lots of help and info.
Ken

eagle · 08-05-2012, 10:24 PM

I know a guy that has a running one...he wants $200 for it. What is a normal price? It does not have a tank but has a governor. Looked at it about 10 years ago so don't know for sure anymore...

Richard Wilson · 08-06-2012, 07:58 AM

$200 would be a very good deal for a running Smith compressor with all of the compressor specific parts.

eagle · 08-06-2012, 03:18 PM

I will look up his number and see if he still has it, he did a couple years ago. He tried to sell it to me as an A engine 10 yrs ago and I didn't want it. Things change, I could sure use it for sandblasting too.

Chris Haynes · 08-06-2012, 05:48 PM

I see them made out of the front section of an A and others with commercial built sheet metal. I would love to have one made from an A.
There is one that has been on eBay for weeks. It started out at $350.00 but then the seller greatly increased his asking price to $777.00.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/vintage-Mode...item20c91cc904

06-23-2010, 10:57 AM	#1
callcoy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Hendersonville TN Posts: 180	Gordon Air Compressor Conversion Ran across a Gordon conversion the other day on what I think was a A engine. Couldn't get thru the collapsed building to view the other side to verify if it was a A or B. Anyone familar with this brand? I know there is a Gordon Co. in Memphis that makes air compressors, I haven't contacted them yet, the usual response for 75 year old info. is "DUH". I thought I would run it by you guys, I know there is a special interest group for another brand but don't know how to hook up with them. Steve - Santa Rosa __________________ Steve - Santa Rosa

06-23-2010, 12:54 PM	#2
binkbee Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bowling Green, KY Posts: 49	Re: Gordon Air Compressor Conversion If you can see the name "Gordon" then it did use the Ford engine. The earlier ones were Model "A" and the later were "V" engines. I live a mile from the manufacturing site. In fact I went there for employment in June of 1978 but was very politely told that "he was downsizing and he was going to regretfully have to let some long term men go". The "A" models ran on two cylinders and pumped air on the other two. There is nothing left today to show the operation---there is a firm selling landscaping mulch from it. Bill in Bowling Green, KY

06-23-2010, 01:52 PM	#3
sonny30coupe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Kansas City KS Posts: 255	Re: Gordon Air Compressor Conversion There is a special interest group of which I am a member. I will try to find the link or you can go to MAFCA website and find the link I am sure. It is the Gordon Smith air compressor group. Good luck. Sonny

06-23-2010, 09:45 PM	#4
callcoy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Hendersonville TN Posts: 180	Re: Gordon Air Compressor Conversion Thank you Bill and Sonny for the information! __________________ Steve - Santa Rosa

06-24-2010, 08:19 AM	#5
Richard Wilson Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NC Posts: 908	Re: Gordon Air Compressor Conversion Club Info On January 1, 2010 MARC issued a regional charter for the Smith Model "A" Engine Compressor Special Interest Region. Our "Motor Compressor News" newsletter is published quarterly. Dues are just $10 a year. Membership info was published in MARC's Model A News for March - April 2010 on page 34. If you are interested in more information contact me at [email protected] or our club President Stan Johnson at [email protected]. Thanks, Richard Wilson -- Treasurer

08-05-2012, 01:19 AM	#6
columbiA Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 1,746	Re: Gordon Air Compressor Conversion Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) 25 years ago I built up a Gordon Smith compressor & used a 100# propane tank for the reciever.It worked very well but needed a tank at least twice the size.From start-up to 125 PSI took only about 50 seconds & when it dropped to 100 #,it took only 10 seconds to get back up to 125 #.If you need reed valves,they are easily made from steel banding about .015" thick.

08-05-2012, 10:18 PM	#7
Ken Ehrenhofer Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Woodstock, Illinois Posts: 597	Re: Gordon Air Compressor Conversion I used mine to sand blast a tudor a few years ago and it puts out about 60 CFM which is about the same as a 15 Horsepower electric compressor, it still works great. BuY it and join the Smith Compressor Region, it is a great group with lots of help and info. Ken

08-05-2012, 10:24 PM	#8
eagle Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Eagle Bend, MN Posts: 2,025	Re: Gordon Air Compressor Conversion I know a guy that has a running one...he wants $200 for it. What is a normal price? It does not have a tank but has a governor. Looked at it about 10 years ago so don't know for sure anymore...

08-06-2012, 07:58 AM	#9
Richard Wilson Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NC Posts: 908	Re: Gordon Air Compressor Conversion $200 would be a very good deal for a running Smith compressor with all of the compressor specific parts.

08-06-2012, 03:18 PM	#10
eagle Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Eagle Bend, MN Posts: 2,025	Re: Gordon Air Compressor Conversion I will look up his number and see if he still has it, he did a couple years ago. He tried to sell it to me as an A engine 10 yrs ago and I didn't want it. Things change, I could sure use it for sandblasting too.

08-06-2012, 05:48 PM	#11
Chris Haynes Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Camarillo, CA and Pine Grove, CA Posts: 2,832	Re: Gordon Air Compressor Conversion I see them made out of the front section of an A and others with commercial built sheet metal. I would love to have one made from an A. There is one that has been on eBay for weeks. It started out at $350.00 but then the seller greatly increased his asking price to $777.00. http://www.ebay.com/itm/vintage-Mode...item20c91cc904 __________________ 1921 Runabout 1930 Tudor Early 1930 AA Speed costs money. How fast do you want to go?